THE tallest family in Britain has moved to America after two of the sons were headhunted by a school to play basketball.

The Van Nes family, whose children attended Thomas Hardye School, are now selling their home, Whitcombe Barn Farm near Dorchester, after making the move across the Atlantic.

The family were featured in the Dorset Echo as the country’s tallest family and then appeared on ITV’s Super-human: World’s Tallest Children in 2009.

The family moved to the farm in 2000. They have since emigrated to live in America and now reside in Connecticut.

Dad Frank is 6ft 10in while mum Miriam is nearly six feet tall. They have four children: Vince, Lucas, Franklin and Naomi.

Franklin is studying at Colgate University in the state of New York, while Naomi is enrolling at a high school in Hamden.

Discussing the family’s move to America, Frank said it came down to Vince and Lucas’s love of basketball.

He said: “In 2009, our two eldest sons were recruited by an American prep school in Massachusetts. They played in school and now they both play in college.

“They said, ‘Mum and dad, why don’t you come over?’ In 2011, we moved to Connecticut.”

Vince is enrolled at Fairfield University while Lucas is at Southern Connecticut State University.

Vince took up basketball in 2006 and began playing for the Bridport Evolution Team.

While living in the US, J V Farming has been farming the land.

Frank said: “They have done a tremendous job. They have really increased the yield on the farm. The farm is in great order.”

This holding has 340 acres of mainly arable land with some permanent pasture. A six-bedroom farmhouse is also tied to the land.

Frank confirmed the house had been modified.

He said: “It has large rooms, high ceilings and big baths. It’s just very roomy.”

The farm has a guide price of £4.25m, with the sale being orchestrated by Savills.

Frank said they had very happy memories of living on the farm.

He said: “Dorset is a great place to live but where the family is, that’s where the home is.”

Frank said they received a positive reaction after appearing on television in 2009.

He said: “They still show that programme on the Discovery Channel here in the US. People still recognise us occasionally. They keep repeating it on TV.

“We are still very down to earth people just living very ordinary lives and soon will be farming in America.”